Integration of Economic Analysis Publications : October 2007

Policy Address 2007-2008

By Christine Loh

In writing this year’s Alternative Policy Address, we are keeping to our tradition of publishing an alternative address prior to that of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, which will be delivered in the Hong Kong Legislative Council on 10 October this year.

In preparation, I looked at the Chief Executive’s election platform and his post-election statements. There are many assertions and lists of initiatives but few policies which have been well-fleshed out, nor are the values behind the initiatives clearly articulated. I believe this points to a reactive style of administration that is driven by events and crises rather than long-term thinking. This Alternative Policy Address starts by putting forward a set of governing principles and values from which the proposed initiatives then follow.

I have placed sustainable development at the core of the exercise. I hope the case for much more sensitive development has been made. I am aware that not all major policy areas have been covered but I hope this short address has sufficiently spotlighted an approach to setting Hong Kong on a new path for the next five years. Many of the ideas have been drawn from Civic Exchange’s research.

I must thank the many researchers who have done work for Civic Exchange over the years whose ideas I have drawn upon. There are too many to name. A quick look at the footnotes will show who they are. For the production of the Alternative Policy Address, I want to thank Carine Lai for her innovative layout and design, Yip Yan-yan for managing the publication process, Michele Weldon for coordinating various aspects of the work, and Pauline Poon and Joanne Chiu for the translation.

Christine Loh
Chief Executive Officer
4 October 2007

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